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Miss Universe 2022's Top 16 and the Stories Behind Their Capes

Their flattering swimsuits may have caught your attention first, but there are more interesting stories behind the capes they were styled with

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Janelle Roa Cabrera-Paraiso

<p>This year, a new and exciting twist to the swimsuit round of the <a href="https://metro.style/people/society-personalities/miss-universe-2022-coronation-night-live-updates/34670" target="_blank">Miss Universe 2022</a> competition was added. Unbeknownst to many, prior to the actual pageant in New Orleans, United States, the national candidates were given an identical cape that each of them should personalize. The <strong>LIVA Fluid Fashion</strong> carry any print, pattern, or art that represents a cause that the delegate is advocating for. <br/></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Browse through the gallery below and learn more about each of the Top 16&#x27;s capes:</strong></div><div><br/></div><div class="article-content" itemProp="articleBody"><div class="media-content"><div class="slider-for"><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/220f4717-22da-44b6-b869-0773701442c4_miss universe swimsuit competition landscape.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/ff5b422d-65ba-4ff9-9a9a-d8651c0038ab_alessia rovegno, miss universe peru.jpg" alt="Miss Universe 2022 Top 16 and the Stories Behind Their Capes" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/de65d8c3-fc24-4a4d-9193-98cc69f9b1f5_alicia faubel, miss universe spain.jpg" alt="Miss Universe 2022 Top 16 and the Stories Behind Their Capes" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/b92647ce-2896-4d0a-9295-b3d00f7fc2c0_amanda dudamel, miss universe venezuela.jpg" alt="Miss Universe 2022 Top 16 and the Stories Behind Their Capes" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/7949d366-0cf3-48aa-80c0-a58d3550ead6_amelia tu, miss universe canada.jpg" alt="Miss Universe 2022 Top 16 and the Stories Behind Their Capes" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/47dca26b-527f-475f-8783-70f5a16ac993_andreina martinez founier, miss universe dominican republic.jpg" alt="Miss Universe 2022 Top 16 and the Stories Behind Their Capes" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/b82be404-5c54-4500-a454-3b1ce668fcbf_ashley cariño, miss universe puerto rico.jpg" alt="Miss Universe 2022 Top 16 and the Stories Behind Their Capes" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/d5b668a4-0ba4-4ce7-b885-1c91d8142b8c_divita rai, miss universe india.jpg" alt="Miss Universe 2022 Top 16 and the Stories Behind Their Capes" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/b5e96207-8041-4ac3-975a-73b112bf084a_gabriëla dos santos, miss universe curacao.jpg" alt="Miss Universe 2022 Top 16 and the Stories Behind Their Capes" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/81fa0421-2cc5-4314-92ed-a61d0fa902d9_mideline phelizor, miss universe haiti.jpg" alt="Miss Universe 2022 Top 16 and the Stories Behind Their Capes" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/96caeefb-2052-4c7a-95c2-4ccbf637624c_maría fernanda aristizabal, miss universe colombia.jpg" alt="Miss Universe 2022 Top 16 and the Stories Behind Their Capes" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/e2d0c215-b47a-4dae-a632-f995cf063a24_monique riley, miss universe australia.jpg" alt="Miss Universe 2022 Top 16 and the Stories Behind Their Capes" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/b8866184-afda-4ec3-ab6a-e2bd754c836d_ndavi nokeri, miss universe south africa.jpg" alt="Miss Universe 2022 Top 16 and the Stories Behind Their Capes" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/0a978316-8069-4c36-8e2d-f35b1766ada4_payengxa lor, miss universe laos.jpg" alt="Miss Universe 2022 Top 16 and the Stories Behind Their Capes" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/2b9131fc-7509-450c-8798-b529b87d7e1a_r’bonney gabriel, miss universe usa.jpg" alt="Miss Universe 2022 Top 16 and the Stories Behind Their Capes" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/76e6b168-190e-4430-a6b2-22c4956e0181_telma madeira, miss universe portugal.jpg" alt="Miss Universe 2022 Top 16 and the Stories Behind Their Capes" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/3ff5870e-8c84-49fb-bb50-9e2ea5e26356_tya jané ramey, miss universe trinidad and tobago.jpg" alt="Miss Universe 2022 Top 16 and the Stories Behind Their Capes" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div></div><div class="media-content slider-desc"><div class="item-desc"><div></div></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Alessia Rovegno, Peru - Backstage commentator Zuri Hall said of this cape: &#x27;Because of her Italian heritage, Miss Peru has been criticized by those who feel she doesn&#x27;t embody traditional Peruvian beauty. So, her cape depicts women of different skin and hair color, all with crowns celebrating diversity.&#x27;<cite>Benjamin Askinas via Miss Universe</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Alicia Faubel, Spain - Miss Spain&#x27;s cape is an homage to Angela Ponce, who represented the country in Miss Universe back in 2018. Angela made history as the firs transgender delegate to ever walk the Miss Universe stage. The cape also celebrates Spain as a nation of &#x27;trailblazing people.&#x27;<cite>Benjamin Askinas via Miss Universe</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Amanda Dudamel, Venezuela - Miss Venezuela worked with children from the largest slum in her country to create the collage-like artwork on her cape. Its message? &#x27;Kids are not toys. Stop child abuse.&#x27;<cite>Benjamin Askinas via Miss Universe</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Amelia Tu, Canada - Training the spotlight on eco-friendly fashion, Canada&#x27;s cape is &#x27;emblazoned with the word sustainability.&#x27; The central element of the cape features red from the Canadian flag and green which represents the country&#x27;s natural resources.<cite>Benjamin Askinas via Miss Universe</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Andreina Martinez Founier, Dominican Republic - A well-known Dominican artist designed her cape, which features Mother Earth with outstretched arms, encouraging everyone to be more conscious of the environment and natural resources. <cite>Benjamin Askinas via Miss Universe</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Ashley Cariño, Puerto Rico - Inspired by a tarot card oil painting called &#x27;Be and let be,&#x27; her cape bears the message of &#x27;diversity, inclusion, and equality.&#x27;<cite>Benjamin Askinas via Miss Universe</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Divita Rai, India - Titled &#x27;From the Heart,&#x27; her cape was designed by a Punjabi artist who&#x27;s a member of the LGBTQ community. As mentioned by backstage commentator Catriona Gray, &#x27;it represents India&#x27;s rich and vibrant culture, along with emblems indicative of her home in Southern India.&#x27;<cite>Benjamin Askinas via Miss Universe</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Gabriëla Dos Santos, Curacao - Featuring images of female referees from the 2022 World Cup, her cape comes with this message: &#x27;women deserve equal opportunities and representation in all fields, including sports, and that women can be heroes of their own stories.&#x27; <cite>Benjamin Askinas via Miss Universe</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Mideline Phelizor, Haiti - Her cape represents peace and unity. Adorned with eye symbols, according to Mideline&#x27;s Instagram account, it &#x27;represents the vision, the ability to see further and through the hidden. It is golden, divine light if it is one, that protects, purifies and represents peace.&#x27;<cite>Benjamin Askinas via Miss Universe</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>María Fernanda Aristizabal, Colombia - Her cape features a single drop of water and the hashtag #SOSWATER, in hopes of raising awareness on the fact that two million people die each year due to water scarcity. <cite>Benjamin Askinas via Miss Universe</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Monique Riley, Australia - Created by an indigenous artist, her cape depicts the Australian sky. Among the symbols in the cape is a kangaroo, Australia&#x27;s national animal and a &#x27;symbol of strength and empowerment.&#x27;<cite>Benjamin Askinas via Miss Universe</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Ndavi Nokeri, South Africa - As shared by backstage commentator Catriona Gray during the swimsuit segment, &#x27;her cape is adorned with the words of those women directly challenging long outdated beauty standards&#x27; in South Africa.<cite>Benjamin Askinas via Miss Universe</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Payengxa Lor, Laos - Her cape is representative of three Laos ethnic groups and reflects the &#x27;story of the country and honors the unity of its people.&#x27;<cite>Benjamin Askinas via Miss Universe</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>R’Bonney Gabriel, USA - With her background as a fashion designer who&#x27;s knowledgable in textiles, Miss USA dyed this cape herself. The design was inspired by a rising Phoenix and her father&#x27;s advice to act up on her dreams and desires today. As he said, &#x27;If not now, when?&#x27; <cite>Benjamin Askinas via Miss Universe</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Telma Madeira, Portugal - Portugal&#x27;s cape was painted by a group of artists with mental and physical disabilities. According to backstage commentator Zuri Hall, Miss Portugal &#x27;has a deep appreciation for the authentic, creative artwork on it because it came straight from the artists&#x27; hearts.&#x27; <cite>Benjamin Askinas via Miss Universe</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Tya Jané Ramey, Trinidad and Tobago - Her cape highlights the negative effects of climate change, specifically the bleaching of Tobago&#x27;s coral reefs. Miss Trinidad and Tobago &#x27;hopes greater awareness might inspire others to protect the oceans which she calls an underwater heaven.&#x27;<cite>Benjamin Askinas via Miss Universe</cite></p></div></div></div></div><div><br/></div><p>The eco-friendly piece of fabric is made of natural fibers known as <strong>LIVA</strong>. Each LIVA served as a white canvas upon which the beauty contestants may show their creativity—be it of personal touch or of collaborative work with any local artist. Miss Universe 2022 titleholder, USA’s <a href="https://metro.style/people/society-personalities/fil-am-usa-r-bonney-gabriel-is-miss-universe-2022/34676" target="_blank">R’Bonney Gabriel</a>, donned a cape that she designed by using plastic bottles and sustainable dyes. It bears the message, “If not now, then when?”</p><div><br/></div><p>Lead photos courtesy of <strong>Benjamin Askinas</strong> via <strong>Miss Universe</strong><br/></p><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/people/society-personalities/71st-miss-universe-prelim-candidates-advocacy-pt1/34660" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The 71st Miss Universe Candidates and Their Advocacies (Part 1)</a></div><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/people/society-personalities/71st-miss-universe-prelim-candidates-advocacy-pt-2/34664" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The 71st Miss Universe Candidates and Their Advocacies (Part 2)</a></div>